as in cheeks
the part of the body upon which someone sits
I decided to get off my bum and get some exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in beggars
an idle worthless person
if you expect an allowance, you have to do some chores and stop being such a bum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hoboes
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living
I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in lounges
to spend time doing nothing
spent most of the summer just bumming around the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bums
Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026
The level of luxury she’s introduced with Barracuda is a stark contrast to the humbler quarters generally associated with backpackers and itinerant surf bums, which still make up the majority of Itacaré’s lodging options.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
With both travel and programming budgets under pressure, all markets have to make a strong case to get buyer and seller bums on seats (or, more accurately, into screening booths and meeting rooms).
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Ndiaye aside, Everton have long lacked bums-off-seats kinds of players.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Ski bums share the slopes with billionaires.
—Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2024
Available in a wide range of playful patterns, from garden vegetables and beach bums to this swimmer style, the colorful shoulder bag has landed a cult following for its ability to add some fun to any look without taking itself too seriously.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
In later years, the shearling coat in its more Western iteration became a fashion statement beloved by hippies and boho ski bums, and was notably worn with great aplomb by Robert Redford in the 1969 classic Downhill Racer.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026
The level of luxury she’s introduced with Barracuda is a stark contrast to the humbler quarters generally associated with backpackers and itinerant surf bums, which still make up the majority of Itacaré’s lodging options.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
With both travel and programming budgets under pressure, all markets have to make a strong case to get buyer and seller bums on seats (or, more accurately, into screening booths and meeting rooms).
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Ndiaye aside, Everton have long lacked bums-off-seats kinds of players.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Ski bums share the slopes with billionaires.
—Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2024
Available in a wide range of playful patterns, from garden vegetables and beach bums to this swimmer style, the colorful shoulder bag has landed a cult following for its ability to add some fun to any look without taking itself too seriously.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bums
Verb
-
Apartments in the capital are freezing, and when venturing outside people wear heavy layers of clothes against the bitter cold that chills to the bone.—
Vasilisa Stepanenko,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Winds chills in the mountains could hit 0 to minus 10 degrees, the NWS says.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The happy couple strolls around town to do normal couple activities (such as a romantic dinner date or appearing on the Kiss Cam at a sporting event), before Pringle Man is destroyed by rabid fans.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
-
From sunset yoga and a world-class spa to leisurely strolls under the live oaks and days spent by the pool, activities at the 20,000-acre resort are numerous—and relaxing.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mike understands that energy is the foundation on which everything else rests, from process uptime to jobs and regional stability.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
-
In the end, no bicameral or parallel governing structure emerged, and power now rests solely with the prime minister and the cabinet, a fact Saint-Cyr acknowledged in his speech.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has a chance to join an exclusive group when his team plays the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.—
Chuck Schilken,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
This commitment to efficiency extends into shelter support, where data plays a significant role.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kutsenko, 31, steps outside into the freezing night, switches on a large rectangular generator and the power kicks back in.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
After a very chilly start to the day, with many spots in North Texas dipping into the 20s during the morning, our southerly flow kicks back in, which will lead to a steady warming trend over the next several days.—
McKenna King,
CBS News,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Each has a meltdown worthy of a telenovela, messes with the crime scene and hours later the police are called.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
-
In Lost Lambs, the internet sabotages a family in much the same way that Napoleon messes things up for the Bezukhovs in Tolstoy’s War and Peace.—
Gideon Leek,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bums. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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